Theodor Geisel, the Man behind Dr. Seuss

Theodor Geisel, using the pen name of Dr. Seuss wrote over 50 books for kids. While his first children’s book, Also to Believe that I Discovered it On Mulberry Street was published in 1937 and he had many successful books following it, his real genius emerged in 1957 with The Cat within the Hat. The Cat in the Hat was the very first Dr. Seuss book written using the notion of teaching children to read. It was an instant smash sensation. Interestingly, it didn't sell well in schools (where one might have expected a lot of interest in teaching reading). Instead it had been the trade edition that flew off bookstore shelves, it’s popularity spread by word of mouth marketing among both kids and parents.

Dr. Seuss’s most notable works, published in the 50’s to the 70’s, were proof his amazing talent being a cartoonist, a poet and, needless to say, an author. From “The Cat inside the Hat”, “Green Eggs and Ham” or “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” to “Horton Hears a Who!”, “The Lorax” or “Oh, the Places You'll Go!”, the impact of Dr. Seuss on children’s books and also on children themselves grew, being acknowledged from the impressive number of sales as well as the admiration and respect critics around the globe manifested for the author and his masterpieces.Dr Seuss

His type of making learn-to-read books fun spawned the fishing line of Beginner Books randomly House which first Ted and then Helen Geisel helped shape and direct. Dr. Seuss’s fame grew as his book sales climbed, but he remained largely a private person. Theodor Geisel declared children were often surprised and disappointed when they met him. As quoted in the Lakeland Ledger on March 25, 1984, Geisel said, “When I arrive, they are at me and say, ‘What are you doing here? Where’s Dr. Seuss?’ They’re never satisfied with me since i don’t fit their description. They expect me to be wearing a big silly hat. They want my nose to light up. And when none of those things happens, they get very disappointed and disappear completely and new troops arrive.”

Since Theodor Geisel passed away iin 1991 new biographies are already written and additional analysis of his writing, drawing and life. Most recently a tale, The afternoon I Met Dr. Seuss tells the fictional story of the young daughter who seeks to find out why is Dr. Seuss such a marvel. Because of the dramatic impact Dr. Seuss had on children’s books, it is no surprise authors remain currently talking about him today.